Cybertruck Frame Breaks While Towing F-150

Recently, YouTuber WhistlinDiesel released “WhistlinDiesel Cybertruck Durability Test #1”, a video dedicated to putting the Cybertruck through its paces in a series of tests ranging from simple off-roading to Jackass-style ridiculousness.

The Context

The video as a whole gets progressively more absurd, but the part of the video that has gotten mass attention is about 6 minutes in, when the Cybertruck frame breaks while towing an F-150.

For context, WhistlinDiesel was putting both the Cybertruck and the F-150 through roughly identical tests to see which came out on top. During the third test, the “speed bump test,” the Cybertruck took a ramp up to the top of some large drain pipes, drove over them, and got stuck on the way down.

To unstick the Cybertruck, the F-150 was hooked up and pulled it down. As the rear tires cleared the pipe, the sharp angle of the drop caused the rear frame of the Cybertruck to slam down hard on the pipe. At this point, there was noticeable damage to the trim, but the truck was still in one piece.

The Damage

While the Cybertruck visually seemed fine, besides some broken trim, something internally must have been seriously damaged from the drop. When the F-150 got stuck after the very first bump, the Cybertruck was hooked up to tow it down. As the F-150 cleared the pipe, its front tires caught on the ramp, causing it to bounce and ultimately shear the rear bumper off the Cybertruck. You can see the extent of the damage below.

This type of damage is basically unheard of for trucks, as they are designed specifically to prevent this failure from happening. Most trucks are body-on-frame designs, meaning that the frame is separate from the body and can take a lot of abuse. The Cybertruck, on the other hand, is a unibody design, meaning that the tow hitch is connected to the body which does not appear to be steel but rather cast aluminum. It is somewhat ironic for a truck with steel everywhere else.

The Takeaway

WhistlinDiesel is not putting these trucks through any kind of normal test. This is extreme, bombastic, and designed for content. Ultimately, however, they are also fair and interesting comparisons between the Cybertruck and the most popular vehicle in America. It is unlikely that anybody will ever put their Cybertruck through this kind of abuse. However, it does show that the Cybertruck does have some notable design flaws when it comes to the durability of the truck.

Various issues arose during the video that did not happen to the F-150, such as the accelerator pedal breaking and the mirror being ripped off with average strength. Some impressive positives were how resistant it was to external forces, including explosions and full-out assaults on the car (beatings with sledgehammers and weights being thrown at the windows, which all failed to break through). Internally, however, it appears the Cybertruck could do with some enhancements to fully live up to its “indestructible” marketing. The Cybertruck is a very cool vehicle, but it is not invincible.